Eostre’s Day: Ostara

Ostara is the pregnant phase of the fertile season.  This is due to the fact that animals are either giving birth or are going through their sexually receptive or estrus period (named after the goddess Eostre).  Because of this, the egg is a prevalent symbol of the Spring Equinox and the theme of birth, life, death and life renewed.

Eggs and those that lay them are harbingers of Spring and the fertile season to come.  For instance, schoolchildren are taught that the sight of a Robin is a sure sign that Spring has actually sprung.  The turquoise-shelled eggs of the Robin have since become such a symbol; the Earth Goddess and the Sun God are back from such a long winter.

The Eostre/Astarte Connection

Eostre is the German goddess of the Spring and dawn and eggs are a predominant symbol for the Rites of Spring.  They are decorated, exchanged, buried or ritually eaten to symbolize the rebirth of Springtime as well as the union with the gods of Spring.  The egg has been a symbol of renewal around the world.

The egg was so special to the Celts that the Druids adopted it as the sacred emblem of the order.  The Hindus have a tale of golden world-egg. The sacred egg of Japan is of a brazen color.  The Chinese paint eggs for their sacred festivals. The Greeks consecrated an egg in a nocturnal ceremony during the Dionysiaca (the mysteries of Bacchus).

To the peoples of Egypt and Syria a great goddess was born form an egg on wondrous size: Astarte.  This egg fell from the heaven and landed in the Euphrates River.  Fish gathered together to push the egg to the riverbank so doves could sit on it and hatch it.  Venus, who later came to be called Astarte by the Syrians was born form this egg.  Astarte, who also lent her name to Easter, took the egg as one of her symbols.  This Mystic Egg had two meanings; one was the “mundane egg”, meaning the egg of the world or the world’s inhabitants.  The other meaning was used by the Church in reference to the ark of the great flood.  In this egg, or ark, the earth’s inhabitants were like a chick enclosed within the shell waiting to be safely hatched.  In the Hebrew language, the egg is called Baitz (masculine) or Baitza (feminine).  In the languages of the Chaldean and the Phoenicians, the word is Baith or Baitha, also meaning “house”.  The Church adopted this mystic egg and the doves of the goddess Astarte along with her name for the purposes of Christ’s resurrection.  They even created a prayer to be used: “Bless, O Lord, we beseech thee, this thy creature of eggs, that is may become a wholesome sustenance unto thy servants, eating it in remembrance of our lord Jesus Christ”.

The Easter/Ostara Connection

Like other Pagan festivals from around the globe, the Spring Equinox celebration was also Christianized.  Yule was used to commemorate Christ’s’ birth and the Vernal Equinox, or Ostara as we now call it, or Easter as the Christians call it, was used to celebrate his resurrection.  At the end of the Middle Ages the day was named Easter after the goddesses Astarte and Eostre.  The day was also given a formula so that it would coincide but not directly fall upon the Vernal Equinox.  Easter Sunday is chosen by an ancient Moon calendar; the fist Sunday after the first Full Moon either on or immediately following the Vernal Equinox.

Why All the Fuss About Eggs Anyway?

The Vernal Equinox is a balance of light and dark because the sun crosses the celestial equator on this day.  Because of the time of the year that they are available and the yolk inside, eggs are symbolic of the Sun and also sacred to such deities as Vulcan and Helios.  Today we can buy eggs at any grocery store any time of the year, but this was not the case for our Pagan ancestors.  Foods were seasonal and eggs were no exception.  The retina of a hen’s eyes need more than twelve hours of light stimulation for the hen to lay eggs.  The retina is the part of the eye that captures both light an images and when the retina ceases to get enough light stimulation, she stops laying eggs for that year.  Fire was not a strong enough light source to fool the hen’s eye so humans only had eggs for one half of the year; starting to lay eggs at the Vernal Equinox and ceasing Autumnal Equinox.  The Vernal Equinox is a celebration of life renewed while the Autumnal Equinox is associated with such themes as death and dying.  Therefore, as the world bloomed and greened, the egg became a natural symbol for renewed life.

The Origin of the Easter Bunny

It is so common these days, you find it everywhere; pastel colored baskets, fake grass and plastic eggs or dye kits.  But where do Easter Baskets and the Easter Bunny come from anyway?  What do they have to do with Christ dying and rising form the dead?

The answer is really nothing; it is yet another Pagan practice that has been adopted by  and added to the new religion.  The root of the Easter Bunny and the Easter Basket is actually in Eostre, the Pagan goddess for which the holiday Ostara is named.

The basket that the Easter Bunny uses to deliver the eggs and treats to children is steeped in Pagan symbolism as well.  The very first baskets that mankind used may have been inspired by nature; watching birds weaving their nests.  The basket is also symbol of life renewed at Spring.  It is a form of the chalice or cauldron; the fertile womb of the Mother Earth Goddess where male and female meets and unites to create new life.  The Hare or Easter Bunny is also a symbol of rebirth (resurrection) and was the sacred totem of many Moon goddesses including Eostre.

As the story goes, the Easter Bunny came to be from one hare in particular.  He wanted to give a gift to the Goddess, but what could a hare give to a Goddess?  After all, she can have anything that she could ever want, right?  But, one day while foraging around for something to eat other than dried grasses; the hare came across a fresh egg.  Hungry, the hare wanted to eat it, but thought better of it so he could give it to the Goddess instead.  The hare decided to make this egg extra special so it would be fit for a Goddess and began to decorate it in symbols and colors of the woods and fields that Eostre’s animals lived in.  Once he felt is was a fit offering, he gave it to Eostre and she was so pleased with this offering that she wanted all of her human children to enjoy it as well.  Since then, that hare’s descendants, Eostre’s Bunnies, or rather Easter Bunnies, have been given the task of delivering treats and decorated eggs to children at springtime.

Egg Decorating: Pysanky

The art of Pysanky is Ukrainian egg decorating that is both beautiful and magickal at the same time.  During the Vernal Equinox, also called Ostara, these naturally dyed eggs are placed in either baskets or bowls after being magickally inscribed so they can be used within the home or to be given away.  Depending upon the designs the Pysanky are powerful amulets for prosperity, fertility or protection.  Their creation is ancient tradition that once was practice solely by women.

The Pysanky also protected the Ukrainian people from a monster that if not kept chained, would devour the entire world.  The monster strains and pulls on the chains throughout the year which weakens the links.  The only thing that keeps him from getting loose is how many Pysanky are created and exchanged during the Vernal Equinox.  The more Pysanky, the stronger the chains.

It wasn’t until 988 CE that the Ukraine accepted Christianity as the official religion.  As in other areas of the world, the people refused to give up their Pagan practices easily.  Eventually, the Church had to assimilate these practices, including the art of Pysanky.  The eggs became known as “Eastern Eggs”, named after Pagan goddess Eostre.  The ancient pagan symbols were reinterpreted and Christian symbols like crosses, steeples and fish from the New Religion were added in.  And the monster that had to be kept chained by the strength of the Pysanky was reinterpreted as well.  No longer did it stand for the need of balance and harmony.  It now represented the Church’s view of the struggle of good over evil.

To create your own Pysanky, you need dye (see below for ideas to create your own dye), a tool called a kitska and beeswax.  A kitska has a pencil-like handle with a tiny metal cup at the end that holds the beeswax but disperses it through a narrow opening.  After the beeswax is poured into the metal cup, it is held over a candle flame to melt the wax.  The wax is used similarly to the method of batik and the kitska is used to draw the design onto the egg.

The word Pysanky is a derivative of the root word “pysati” which means “to write” because signs and symbols are written on the egg’s surface for magickal purposes.  Depending on your purpose you can combine various symbols and colors, creating a powerful talisman that like a fingerprint, no two are alike.  To begin, decide if you are going to use animals, vegetables, geometric shapes or a combination of all three.  For fertility, a man would have been given a Pysanky with a rooster and his wife might have received a Pysanky with eggs drawn upon it.  To protect the home from fire, water designs in shades of blue were drawn on the Pysanky.  For a bountiful harvest, a Pysanky might have wheat inscribed on it.  Curls and spirals were used to bestow divine protection upon the owner of the Pysanky where dots and small circles represented stars which bestowed good luck and success.

If you are not sure where to start, go with the tried and true method of using encircling bands. These represent the birth-life-death-rebirth cycle and where two bands intersect, you create a solar cross which represents the union of opposing forces like spirit and matter or God and Goddess.  Within these bands are geometric designs which also have symbolism; triangles represent the Triple Goddess, squares symbolize the element of Earth, ladders represent the various worlds of planes or even the planes within planes, rakes were used for agriculture and the Sun was represented by either pinwheels (feminine)or eight-pointed stars (masculine, the eight solar Sabbats).  Sometimes the shapes are filled with a cross-hatch of intersecting lines that resembles netting which also represent the solar cross.  Sometimes the symbols are repeated within a band, like triangles which were called “wolf’s teeth” which transformed the egg into a Pysanky of protection, wisdom and strength.  Sometimes the lines and not straight but instead meander.  These usually mean one of two things; fire or water, dependant upon which color you use for the line.

After a design is decided on and the wax is ready, the next step is to begin dying the egg to transform it in the Pysanky.  The dyes for Pysanky are transparent, so you will need to begin with the lightest color and work you way up to the darkest.  For instance, you would work your way through the color spectrum of yellow, then orange, followed by red, then brown, followed by purple or black.  Let’s say you started with yellow; any part of your design that you wish to remain yellow would need to be waxed before moving on to the orange dye.  Then, you would simply repeat this process until you have gone through all of the colors that are in your design.

Once dying is complete, set your oven to about 200 degrees.  Place your egg(s) inside with the oven door cracked slightly and keep watch until the egg(s) look wet.  At this point, the egg(s) can be rubbed with a paper towel to remove the wax and reveal your intricate design.  If you wish, you can finish your egg(s) with glossy varnish.

Like the people of Pagan Ukraine, you can either exchange, give away or keep your Pysanky, depending on your design and what it’s for.  Pysanky with protective symbolism were kept in the home as amulets of protection and proudly displayed throughout the year, not just used as a seasonal decoration.  Because eggs are symbolic of the birth-life-death-rebirth cycle, Pysanky are powerful amulets that help maintain the balance between the light half of the year (starting on the Vernal Equinox) and the dark half of the year (beginning with the Autumnal Equinox).

Egg Decorating: Colors

Today we have commercially dye kits, but it is possible to use the methods of our Pagan ancestors to achieve the same results.  Yellow onion skins will yield a yellow color, a single red onion skin will produce a soft orange and deep rust comes from a handful of onion skins.  Use beet juice to achieve a pink hue.  For a shade of blue; use blueberries for a light blue and red cabbage leaves for a robin’s egg blue.  A half-teaspoon of turmeric produce a sunshine yellow, blackberries will give you lavender, carrots for orange and for the color green use wither spinach or kale.  Additionally, you can use white grapes for a pale yellow, vanilla extract for a yellow-orange, daffodil blossoms for a yellow-green, dandelions for orange, orris root for a rusty-orange, paprika for a brownish-orange, heather for pink, madder root for red, bracken for green, iris blossoms for a pinkish-blue, mulberries for a blue-violet and cayenne for rust.

How can you choose which colors to dye your eggs?  That depends on which symbolism you wish to represent.  For instance, in Asia red-colored eggs are offered at events such as births and funerals due to their connection to birth-life-death-rebirth cycle.  Use yellow to represent the sun, intellect and communication.  Orange is another Sun color that is connected to the third chakra and friendship.  Red is the color of the blood of the Mother Earth Goddess, from which all things are born (the Greek Orthodox Church adopted using red eggs in their Easter Eve service and the Druids had a similar practice).  Another Mother Earth color, green is the color of Spring, Summer and prosperity.  Blue is a color of the Maiden Goddess, peace and healing.  The color of the Crown Chakra, violet is connected to Spirit.  White is an all-purpose color and can substitute for any other color in a pinch.  Brown is the color of the element of Earth and its animals.  The color of the Crone Goddess in Western thinking, black is actually the color of life in Eastern cultures.  For romantic love, use the pastel or “spring” pink.  For the Moon Goddess use silver.  For solar deities or wealth, use gold.

The Easter Egg Hunt

It is thought that the first “Egg Hunts” were done by the hunter-gatherers in the Spring after the sparse Winter.

Keeping with the theme of life renewed, hunting for hidden eggs in India and Asia at springtime was commonplace thousands of years ago.  These cultures believed that each individual was responsible for their own actions and that each of us must find their own path.  Because of their belief in reincarnation and that connection to the egg, the egg-hunt was a time to think about the karmic balance of right and wrong as well as how to improve their position in their next lifetime.  In the eastern culture, the egg hunt represented the soul’s quest for renewal, striving for perfection and ultimately uniting with the Divine.

To the north, those living in the Scandinavian and German regions had a practice offering eggs to the Goddess at Springtime in exchange for a boon.  The Teutons placed eggs under human beds or animal dwellings and in the fields to encourage fertility and abundance (modern-day Pagans still use this practice when tending their magickal gardens).  But, after the rise of Christianity and Pagan practices made illegal, these offerings had to be placed so that only the Goddess could find them.  The authorities were ones who instigated the “egg hunt” and over time it became a children’s game.

It wasn’t until President Abraham Lincoln ordered what we now call the Easter Egg Hunt that this practice came to be commonplace.  In the middle of the Civil War, the Spring of 1862, Lincoln invited the children of Washington DC to come to the White House lawn on Easter morning to search for eggs and popular treats.

Egg Magick & divination

Eggs have been used for magickal purposes because in Metaphysics and Alchemy, they contain all five of the elements of magick; Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit.  The outer shell is representative of Earth, the egg-white represents Water, Air is represented by the membrane that connects the white to the shell, the yellow yolk represents fire and Spirit is represented by the embryo.  Because of this, a simple egg is symbolic of beginnings and endings, birth and rebirth, fertility and death, creativity and stagnation, endless possibilities.  The egg also has planetary associations; the Moon is found in the egg-white and the Sun is found in the Yolk.

The Great Cosmic Egg is a concept that has been passed down fro thousands of years.  For instance the Egyptians had a goose god called Gengenwar and he was given the job of keeping the Greta Cosmic Egg (from which all life sprang) safe.

Adder’s Tongue Spell

The pan-Celts had form of a necklace called the “Adder’s Tongue” (called “ouion anguinum” in Gaulish) which was both a protection amulet as well as a sort of telephone to the spirit world.  Usually made form a snake or adder’s egg (sometimes substituted with a black stone or a seashell), it was worn at the neck by a leather thong.

You can create a modern-day version of the Adder’s Tongue.  Don’t worry if you are fresh out of adder’s egg in you magickal pantry.  You can make a trip to your local arts-and-crafts-store to find what you need.  This time of year, you might even be able to find a bead or a charm in the shape of an egg.  But if not, you may find something that would make a good substitute.  If yours not into having and egg hanging form your neck, perhaps you would like to go with a seashell or a black stone substitution.  Or, you may be able to find a black stone that will rest atop of a shell, that would very nice and no one would have to know that you are wearing a magickal talisman that you created yourself!

Whichever you choose to hang from the leather thong, the next step is to find that part of the necklace.  You may wish to buy this at the   arts-and-crafts-store as well, but you could always buy a pack of leather shoestrings because those will definitely hold up to wear-and-tear.

So, will your Adder’s Tongue necklace be one of protection or one to wear to connect to the Divine?  Perhaps you would like it to serve as both?  Then you can alternate using the following two chants.  Whichever you decide, while you are crafting your necklace, make sure to chant with magickal intent.

Protection From Harm

“Today I create an Adder’s Tongue,

To serve me as a talisman;

This necklace will protect me,

With harm to none, so mote it be.”

Psychic Connection to the Divine

“Today I create an Adder’s Tongue,

To serve me as a talisman;

With it, I connect to Divinity,

With harm to none, so mote it be.”

Here are many more ways that you can use the eggs that are most likely already in your refrigerator:

• Eggs aren’t just for breakfast and Egg Nog isn’t just for Yule (or Christmas).  Egg drinks and dishes are a popular Spring Equinox treat.  The word “nog” comes from an Old English root word that means “a strong ale”.  It has nothing to do with any particular time of the year, so if you wish to add it to you Ostara celebration, feel free to do so.
• After been painted with magickal symbols, eggs were either thrown into fires or buried into the soil as an offering to the Mother Earth Goddess.  Sometimes the eggs were painted in the colors of the sun like yellow or gold and then used in rituals to honor the Father Sun God.
• Eggs can be used to help magickally bring about wishes and desires as they represent surprises and new beginnings.
• Eggs are buried near cemeteries to instigate reincarnation in places such as the southern Appalachian Mountains and in west-central Africa.
• Ruled by the element of Water, eggs are a food that is ritually eaten at Ostara to celebrate the return of the Sun and the season of plenty.  This ancient tradition has survived until today including that of an Italian tradition.  Colored hard-boiled eggs are baked into braided bread-nests that look like a wreath or a basket.
• Springtime (Ostara and Bealtaine) are a perfect time for initiation and eggs are a perfect symbol for the ritual.
• Springtime is also a time of fertility.  Place a raw egg on your altar as a representation.
• Also for your altar, a fresh, raw egg can be used as a non-living sacrifice given to the gods.
• Have you seen trees or bushes in people’s yards decorated with pastel plastic Easter Eggs?  Well, this custom, like so many others has Pagan origins, too.  It originated as the Egg Tree, a form of protection in the Ozarks.  A small and dead bush was chosen, preferably one that was close to the home, and the branches were trimmed down.  Eggshells were emptied by blowing the contents out and then tied to the branches with ribbons.  Over the years, the “tree” would be completely covered with as few as dozens or as many as hundreds of eggshells.
• In the Tattwas system, the predominantly used symbol for the element of Spirit is that of a black egg-shaped oval.  It represents the birth of the soul as there are may Pagan creation myths that involve the world being born from an egg.  It also represents the re-birth of the souls as eggs are a metaphor for reincarnation.
• Called oomantia, ovamancy or ooscopy, the ancient art of divination by the use the eggs has been used by nearly every culture to such things as determine the sex of an unborn child or to determine is a person or animal has been afflicted by the Evil Eye.
• Another practice that surpasses cultures is that of using eggs for the purposes of healing.  Our Pagan ancestors used an unfertilized egg from a black hen.  Nowadays, we have no idea what color the hen was that laid the egg that comes in a container from the grocery store, so you can easily substitute with a brown egg or even a white egg.

Sources:

• Celtic Myth & Magick: Harnessing the Power of the Gods and Goddesses by Edain McCoy
• Dancing With the Sun: Celebrating the Seasons of Life by Yasmine Galenorn
• House Magic: The Good Witch’s Guide to Bringing Grace to Your Space by Ariana
• Making Magick: What it is and how it works by Edain McCoy
• Ostara: Customs, Spells & Rituals for the Rites of Spring by Edain McCoy
• Sticks, Stones, Roots & Bones: Hoodoo, Mojo & Conjuring with Herbs by Stephanie Rose Bird
• Teen Witch: Wicca For a New Generation by Silver RavenWolf
• The Two Babylons: or the Papal Worship Proved to be the Worship of Nimrod and His Wife by the Late Rev. Alexander Hislop
• Wheel of the Year: Living the Magical Life by Pauline Campanelli
• The Wicca Cookbook: recipes, Ritual and Lore by Jamie Wood and Tara Seefeldt
• Wicca Craft: The Modern Witch’s Book of Herbs, Magick and Dreams by Gerina Dunwich
• The Wicca Handbook by Eileen Holland
• The Wiccan Book of Ceremonies and Ritual by Patricia Telesco
• The Wicca Spellbook: A Witch’s Collection of Wiccan Spells, Potions and recipes by Gerina Dunwich
• The Witch Book: The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca and Neo-Paganism by Raymond Buckland
• A Witches Bible Compleat by Janet and Stewart Farrar

February begins with a Sabbat that is usually celebrated on February 2^nd.  Although it has many names, it is usually referred to as Imbolc or Imbolg (pronounced em-bowlg or immol’g) meaning “in the belly” (being pregnant with life) or Oimelc (pronounced oy-melk) meaning “ewe’s milk” (nourishing life).  Other names for this day are Disting-tid (Norse), Laa’l Breeshay (Isle of Mann), and Candlemas (Saxon; “mas” meaning “feast”, not a Catholic word).  As this is the day of Brigit, be she goddess or saint, this day is also called White Brigit’s Day, Feast Day of Saint Brigit (Irish) or Feast Day of Saint Blaise (an Armenian saint that has a King arthur connection and may be the goddess Brigit in disguise).

Brigit is the Goddess of Inspiration and the Lady of the Sacred Flame.  As a goddess, she is usually referred to as Brigit, but after her demotion to sainthood, she was usually called Brigid.  Brigit has many other names, but to keep things simple, I will continue to refer to her as Brigit here.  Although her holiday falls at a time of the year where both light and warmth are waxing, her day is about the light, not the heat.  This is expressed through candlelight, torchlight or firelight.

Fire has been considered sacred for thousands of years and the practice of tending it goes back to the Greeks and continued on to “Saint Brigid” and her “nuns”.  Brigit’s lineage can be traced back to other goddesses with fire associations such as Juna, Minerva, artemis/Diana, Tanit (Lucifer or Lucia, the Son of the Morningstar Venus, not the Christian “Satan”), Hecate (they both have crossroads connections) and Hestia (Greek) or Vesta (Roman).

The Name Hestia or Vesta means “dwelling place”, as in the womb of the goddess, the cauldron or Holy Grail Cup, as she is the mother of the Sun God.  Although her name came to mean “fire”, “Hestia” means “ a house” or “a dwelling” as it is derived from the word “hes” or “hese”, meaning “shelter”, “to protect” or “to show mercy”.  Hestia to the Greeks and then after her Roman “adoption” as Vesta, was the goddess of domestic life and it was believe that she resided in every household, the reason for her shrines.  She was also sometimes called Ashta, another name meaning “fire” and she was referred to the Goddess of Fire.

Fire was so sacred to the Greeks and Romans that select women were chosen to tend the sacred flame in temples built to Hestia/Vesta.  In the time of the Romans, these were called Vestal Virgins.  This practice was also found throughout history in other parts of the globe, sometimes because of the Collective Consciousness and sometimes from Roman occupation.

“In Scandinavia, the priestesses of Freya, who were generally kings’ daughters,

whose duty it was to watch the sacred fire, and who were bound to perpetual virginity,

were just an order of nuns.  In Athens there were virgins maintained at the public expense,

who were strictly bound to single life.  In Pagan Rome, the Vestal virgins,

who had the same duty to perform as the priestesses of Freya, occupied a similar position.

Even in Peru, during the reign of the Incas, the same system prevailed,

and showed so remarkable an analogy, as to indicate that the Vestals of Rome,

the nuns of the Papacy, and the Holy Virgins of Peru, must have sprung form a common origin.  These were young maidens dedicated to the service of the deity,

who at a tender age were taken form their homes, and introduced into convents,

where they were placed under the care of certain elderly matrons, mamaconas,

who had grown grey within their walls.  It was their duty to watch over the sacred fire. ”

From “The Two Babylons

Why were these young ladies, their occupation and the fire held in such high esteem?

“The fire of Vesta was regarded as one of the grand safeguards of the (Roman) empire.

(It) was kept with the most jealous care by the Vestal Virgins, who, for their charge of it,

were honored with the highest honors.”

From “The Two Babylons

So ingrained into the people’s psyche the importance of this sacred fire, that even after Paganism was outlawed in Rome, the temples survived and the practices remained.

“The “great serpent of fire” was cast out, when by the decree of Gratian,

Paganism throughout the Roman Empire was abolished-when the fires of Vesta

were extinguished, and the revenues of the Vestal virgins were confiscated…

How strong was the hold that Paganism had in the Imperial city,

even after the fires of Vesta was extinguished,

and state support was withdrawn from the Vestals;

but the Emperor yet spared the statues of the gods which were exposed to public view;

four hundred and twenty four temples or chapels

still remained to satisfy the devotion of the people.”

From “The Two Babylons

Brigit was no different than Vesta; history repeated itself, the fires were to be extinguished as they were in Rome, but the flames would burn on.  Even after her “demotion” to sainthood, Brigit simply chose to evolve to survive.  She became the first nun in Ireland and created a small community of seven virgins at Croghan Hill.  Later it was said that she moved to a new location, into a cell at the base of an oak tree (oaks being sacred to the Druids).  This tiny community grew into a nunnery and monastery, the famous center of learning at Kildare; or “cill-dare”, meaning “oak-cell”.  Seven nuns grew to be 19 that tended Brigit’s flame and many daughter convents peppered Ireland from this original one.

In her goddess aspect, before her demotion, Brigit also had a cauldron (that she may have obtained form her father) and one of the jobs of what would become “nuns” was to tend to the flame beneath it.  In many of his books, Raven Grimassi makes the case that many of the practices of the Celts actually come from the Greeks and Romans, and this is also one of them.  The Greeks had nine muses, who among other things inspired humans, and Brigit originally had nine fire attendants and one of her powers as a goddess is to inspire humans.  Brigit can do many things, but for the purposes of this spell, we will tap into the power of the Sacred Flame of inspiration.

THE SPELL

If possible, perform this spell either at your hearth, but if you don’t have one, you can simply substitute your kitchen stove (the modern-day equivalent).  Preferably perform this spell either on or as close to February 2^nd as you can.

Supplies

• Candle (color of your choice, to correspond with your need)
• Cauldron/fire-safe bowl

Either create Sacred Space or cast a Magick Circle in the manner of your own tradition.

Call to Brigit with this or another evocation:

“On this day of waxing light

Longer days and shorter nights

I call to Brigit, Goddess White

On this day of Your powers’ height.”

Candlelight

Light the candle after placing it inside the cauldron and say:

“As I light this candle fire

Lady of the Flame, please inspire.”

Inspiration

In your own words, speak to Brigit about the subject that requires her aid in inspiration.  Perhaps like a Muse, she can inspire you to find a solution to a life-problem that is blocking you from moving forward.  Perhaps she can lead you to a solution that will destroy your negative situation in a blaze of glory.  Although this article has focused on Brigit in her flame aspect, she is also associated with sacred wells and streams, so perhaps Brigit could teach you to move like water; finding the path of least resistance or to crack a giant boulder simply by freezing within the cracks.  If you have writer’s block or another kind or artistic block, ask Brigit to help you to move past it.  Whatever your situation may be, simply pour your heart out to Brigit and ask for her help in finding the best outcome for all involved.

Meditation

Mediate now on the light in the darkness, the candle in the cauldron, the life within the womb.  With Her inspiration, you can plant a seed to grow in the coming season.  During meditation, Brigit may give you the answer to which you seek.  If not, do not worry, She may use a dream to get the message to you or you may get the message from a chance encounter in your daily life, so be vigilant as to what messages are coming your way.

To thank the Goddess Brigit:

When finished, if you feel so inclined, in gratitude to Brigit for Her help, you may wish to tend her flame as others have and still do.  If this is not for you, please consider making a donation in Her honor.  Although I didn’t cover it much here in this article, Brigit’s cauldron fed many and she was known for providing for those in need.  You could do the same by making a food donation to either your local food bank or to the local animal shelter.  Don’t worry if you have to make it a small donation due to your current state of finances if that is an issue for you; Brigit will see what is in your heart.  After all, She is the flame that burns within all of our hearts.

Sources:

Candlemas: Feast of Flames by Amber K and Azrael Arynn K

The Two Babylons or the Papal Worship Proved to be the Worship of Nimrod and his Wife by the late Rev. Alexander Hislop

Ganesha is an Indian God with the body of a man and the head of an elephant. The God of wisdom and prudence, he is sometimes called Ganapati, Ganesa or Gajani and he is known as the God of Scribes and Merchants as well as the Lord of Obstacles.

For the purposes of January, we will use Ganesha to help us make wise decisions for the coming year (it is the time to make New Year’s Resolutions after all!) as well as to help to clear the obstacles that lie in the way of getting our goals accomplished.  But before we get to work, let’s take a longer look at Ganesha.

Ganesha has an interesting “parentage”.  I say this because Shiva is his father, but it seems that Shiva had no part in his creation.  Ganesha’s mother is Parvati and there are two legends that explain how she brought him to life.  One is where she used flakes of her skin and the other is where she formed Ganesha form her sweat mixed with dust.  Although now he is depicted with an elephant’s head, this was not how Parvati originally created him.

Ganesha is the only Indian god with an elephant’s head and the story behind this is an interesting one.  Or should I say “three” as there are three legends as to how Ganesha’s head was replaced by that of an elephant’s.  Sometimes he is depicted as having up to five elephant heads, but this is usually not the case.  Ganesha rides a rat and he also has one trunk and four arms holding a shell, a mace, a discuss and a water-lily.  But back to how he got his head…

Both of these legends basically start out the same.  Parvati, Ganesha’s mother, appointed him to be the guardian of the gate to her abode, most notably when she was taking a bath.  Like a good son, Ganesha took his job very seriously and when Parvati said she wanted to see no one,  he turned everyone away, including his father Shiva.  As you can imagine, Shiva didn’t want to be told “no” by his son, but Ganesha flatly refused.  Now, here is where the story starts to waver.  Shiva either lost his temper and accidentally decapitated him, or, he lost his temper and he ordered the decapitation himself.  Regardless as to which version of the story you hear, Parvati was furious by what Shiva did to her son/servant.  In one story, Parvati told Shiva that she wanted nothing to do with him until the situation was rectified, and in the other version, she took actions into her own hands.  In the fist version, Shiva relented to his wife and he said that Ganesha could have the head of the first animal to pass by, which happened to be an elephant.  In the second version, Parvati was the one to secured the head form the first passing creature.  Either way, Ganesha ended up with an elephant’s head.  In the third account, after creating him, Parvati took Ganesha to the other gods to show him off.  Sani (Saturn), didn’t seem to be impressed and burned his head to ashes and it was the compassionate Vishnu that saved him by providing the elephant’s head.  Maybe this is how Ganesha came to be known as the god to call upon when needing to overcome obstacles.

Beloved by the Hindu people, Ganesha is the benign deity to invoke to overcome your difficulties, before going on a journey, moving into new house or starting a new business.  You can see how he can be a great ally when starting new beginnings, especially at the New-Year.  But don’t feel as though you can only call upon him at this time as Ganesha is also the god of wisdom, art, guarding households and fertility (he may have originated as the local forest deity which is a “yaksa”).  Representing both force and cunning; Ganesha rules over good luck, successful enterprises, worldly success and prosperity, writing, literature and books, beginnings and journeys, peace, building and taming dangerous forces.

In India, there are little statues of Ganesha everywhere as he remains one of the most popular Hindu deities.  You can see how popular he is due to his frequent appearances in other deity’s temples.  Sometimes his sculptures are painted red but his offerings are always flowers and dishes of rice.  When worshipped during his August festival, it is said that your wishes will come true.

You to can tap into his wisdom and compassion to set your New Year’s intentions off to the right start.  To get started, you can set up your altar with Sandalwood incense, a bouquet of fresh flowers, a red candle, a bowl of rice and a statue or picture of Ganesha (you can substitute a picture of an elephant if you are lacking a picture of Ganesha).  You will also need a pen and a piece of paper to make out your “wish list” for the coming year.  You can choose to either create Sacred Space or cast a Magick Circle in the manner or your tradition, whichever works better for you.

Place the statute/picture of Ganesha upon your altar and say:

“Ganesha, both man and elephant,

God of scribes and merchants;

Tonight I call upon your prudence

So I start my year with success.”

Now place the offerings of rice flowers before the picture/statue and say:

“Tonight I make a list of goals,

And I ask you to remove all obstacles;

Please grant me financial fertility,

So I know prosperity.”

Light the incense and the red candle and say:

“Lord of Obstacles, share your wisdom

So I can make wise decisions.

As my prayers rise, please light my way

As I step onto this journey.”

Now for the work on your part.  Get out the pen and paper and if you haven’t already prepared a list, brainstorm now as to what you want to bring into your life this coming year.  Also make sure to list what things are obstacles to reaching your goals, especially the things that you will do to sabotage your own success.  Ask yourself what needs to be guarded, where you need to apply force, which situations require cunning, where you can start new beginnings and what areas of your life need more peace.  Make a plan as to how to “stay on track” throughout the year to ensure your prosperity and happiness.

To close your spell, in your own words ask Ganesha to stay with you on your journey and then thank him for his help.  If possible, let the candle burn out and then bury the leaving on your property.  Dispose of the rice in the morning (after the essence has been removed).  Replace the flowers when needed and whenever you feel the need, light another stuck of incense and ask Ganesha for an extra “boost” of wisdom when things get “sticky”.

SOURCES:

• Encyclopedia of the Gods by Michael Jordan
• Moon Magick: Myth & Magic, &

• Recipes

  • HearthBeats: Recipes from a Kitchen Witch
, Rituals & Spells by D.J. Conway

Mawu, pronounced MAH-woo and sometimes alternatively spelled Mahu, is a West African Mother Earth creator goddess associated with both the sun and moon.  Sometimes she is seem as a moon goddess, the twin sister-wife of the sun god Liza (alternatively spelled Lisa), but sometimes “she” is seen as one androgynous or hermaphroditic deity, Mawu-Lisa.  When seen as two separate deities, Mawu and Liza are the children of Nana Buluku and the parents of Xevioso.

Mawu is said to have created all life on earth with her husband Liza, but after doing so, she worried that it might be too heavy, and so she asked for help from the serpent Aido Hwedo.  Another androgynous being, it curled up beneath the earth and pushed it up into the sky.  She also requested aid in creating more animals out of clay, so she asked the monkey Awe, who turned out to be arrogant and challenged Mawu and tried to show that he, too could give life.  When Gbadu, the first woman that Mawu had created saw all the chaos that had ensued, she called out to the children of the earth to remind them that it is only Mawu that can give the gift of Sekpoli, the breath of life.  To drive this point home, Mawu gave Awe a bowl of porridge that contained the seed of death; the she and no other is the giver and taker of life.

As Mawu is no stranger in asking for help, you can call upon her to learn how to live in harmony.  In these financially traumatic times, she ensures that our needs are abundantly met without causing any harm to our planet.

The Spell:

This spell is designed to be so simple that you can perform it anywhere or at any time. If you have the option of waiting to time your spell work, then perform this under the light of the Full Moon.

The only supply that you need is your need; your need to have a roof over your head, clothes on your back, food in your stomach, reliable transportation, etc.  You have the option of casting a circle and performing a full ritual, or you can simply gather your bills and ask for Mawu’s help in keeping your checkbook in the black and out of the red.

It wouldn’t hurt to light a candle or a stick of incense and to give an offering from your heart to Mawu (such as flowers or cowrie shells).

When you feel that you have everything ready for your particular situation, say:

“Mawu, goddess of earth, sun and moon,

I ask that you grant to me this boon.

Mawu, Mother Goddess, creatrix of life,

I call to you to help end my strife.

Please, let us work in harmony,

And all my needs be met abundantly.

For the good of all and to the harm of none,

So say I, so shall it be done.”

Source: Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards Guidebook by Doreen Virtue, Ph.D.

We know the day as Samhain, but the non-magickal call it Halloween.  And what is Halloween without the iconic black cat; fluffy tail, arched back and seated on the back of a witches’ broom.  Besides being associated with Witches, how did the infamous black cat get to be the unofficial ambassador for the holiday?  Well, many goddesses have had feline companions of one sort or another including the Norse Freya and the Greco-Roman artemis-Diana but the goddess that is possibly best known as a cat is the Egyptian Bast.

Bast, or Bastet, wasn’t always as we know her today, she started out as Sekhmet.  Over time, Sekhmet transformed herself to meet the needs of the people and became two separate divinities, one the fierce Sekhmet who was called upon for protection, and the other was the gentle Bastet who was called upon for personal assistance in matters of conception.  In either form, Bast was the daughter of the sun-god Re (sometimes said to be the eldest daughter of Amun), but in the guise of Sekhmet, she was the “rage in his eye” and acted as the instrument of his vengeance.  The Egyptian Trinity was Sekhmet-Bast-Re and Bast was honored and venerated during special holidays through the imbibing of wine, beer and sometimes grape-juice.

During the worship of Bast and Sekhmet, the cat became a symbol of the goddess energy.  Cats were venerated for two-thousand years and the earliest known portrait of Bast dates back to 3000 BC.  Initially, she was portrayed as a lioness (Sekhmet), but from 1000 BC onward she took the form of a cat (Bast’s son Mihos has the head of a lion, so perhaps he has more of Sekhmet’s traits than those of his mother).  Bast is the more peaceable and benign form of Sekhmet and has both lunar and solar energies.  Bast is usually pictured as a woman with a cat’s head but sometimes with a lion’s head (Sekhmet) and has nurturing, motherly qualities.

As the benevolent form of Sekhmet, Bast is associated with domesticity, fertility, pleasure, healing and protection.  Her symbols are the sistrum, basket and the alabaster jar.  During her worship, her cult center was at Bubastis.  The cat was considered sacred and there were cat cemeteries full of mummified animals.  During the Helenic period, she was synchronized with artemis and took the more Sekhmet form of Pakhet (“she who tears”).

THE SPELL:

This is a very simple spell where you will ask for Bast’s help in a personal situation.  Perhaps you are looking to conceive a child or need healing.  Or, you could call upon Bast to quell your “bad side” (Sekhmet), and request help with your temper.  And, either version of the goddess (the benevolent Bast or the vengeful Sekhmet) could use their claws to protect your or your loved ones (cubs).  Whatever you feel you need help with, you will simply speak from your heart to the Goddess.

Supplies: most likely you don’t have an alabaster jar lying about, and you may not have a Bast statuette, so you can use a simple basket to represent Bast.  For an offering to her, you can choose between beer, wine or even grape-juice.

Begin by either creating sacred space or casting a circle in the manner of yoru tradition.

Open up the spell by calling to Bast:

“On this day of the Celtic Samhain,

I call upon the Egyptian Lion;

The Trinity: Sekhmet-Bast-Re,

Please bless me on this day.”

Place the basket on your altar after saying:

“Sacred Black Cat of Halloween,

Traveling worlds seen and unseen;

I honor this day the Egyptian Bastet,

Symbolized here by this basket.”

Hold up your offering of wine/beer/juice and say:

“By the magick of your lives of nine,

I give to you this offering of wine.”

Place the wine either in the basket itself or directly in front of it and say:

“I give to you this libation,

in exchange for aid in my situation.”

Speak to Bast in your own words as to what in your life needs to be rectified.  Let it all out and cry if you need to.   You should meditate to try to get an answer, so perhaps you would like to have a pen and paper nearby in case you get some immediate guidance from Bast.  When finished, express your gratitude to Bast by saying:

“My thanks to you, black cat goddess,

Egyptian queen in a lion’s dress.

I wish a happy Celtic New Year to you.

Please guide me in the work I do.”

Be sure to leave the offering overnight and then dispose of the remainder in the morning!

SOURCES:

Egyptian Paganism for Beginners by Jocelyn Almond & Keith Seddon

Encyclopedia of the Gods by Michael Jordan

Halloween by Silver RavenWolf

Offering to Isis: Knowing the Goddess Through Her Sacred Symbols by M. Isidora Forrest

One of the fruits most associated with the Autumnal Equinox is the apple.  You can use it as an altar decoration or as part of your Sabbat feast.  This versatile yet average-every-day-fruit has some very ancient magickal roots.

The Apple Tree is associated with the goddess, most specifically Ishtar, Aphrodite (Venus), Hera, Athena, Freya, Cerridwen, Pamona and Idunna.  The Greek Pamona and the Norse Idunna are perhaps the best known for their sacred, magickal apples.  Pamona was considered both a Hamadryad (a wood nymph) as well as a goddess while Idunna was a maiden goddess of the earth.  Pamona as the goddess of the apple tree tended a sacred grove of them while Idunna was in charge of the Golden Apples that maintained the immortality of the Norse pantheon.  Due to its magickal correspondences, the apple is also associated with Venus (Aphrodite) as it is a fruit of the element of water and when sliced cross-wise, it reveals to you the pentagram or the Star of Knowledge, the same shape that the planet Venus makes as it travels through the skies.

The pentagram that resides within the apple is called the Star of Knowledge is because according to Druidic lore, the apple tree is the keeper of all knowledge, and since ancient times, the apple has been a symbol of love, fertility, magick and wisdom.  These markings also represent the womb of the Mother Earth Goddess, from whom we come from and to whom we must return.

It is also a Faery Tree, so make sure to plant one in your yard as an invitation to them.  When picking apples for the Autumnal Harvest, make sure to leave a few hanging on the tree to show respect to the Faeries, the spirit of the tree as well as the Mother Earth Goddess.

THE SPELL

This is a very simple spell; you only need an apple (Golden is preferred, but not required) and a knife to cut it.  Make sure to wash your apple before using it magickally!

Either create sacred space or cast a magick circle in the tradition or style of your choice.

Standing at your altar, hold the apple up to the Gods and say:

“Fruit of the Faery Tree;

Keeper of the sacred pentagram.”

Cut the apple cross-ways to expose the Star of Knowledge and then say:

“Fruit of the Tree of the Goddess;

Containing wisdom ancient and old.”

Take a bite of the apple slice, making sure to notice its watery goodness and taking in the sustenance.  Say:

“I take Your wisdom within me,

I am balanced in every way.”

Close your eyes and meditate as to how to be bettered balanced in all aspects of your life. Contemplate as to how to give equal time to the different hats that you wear In both your mundane and spiritual life.  Ask Pamnona, Idunna and Venus to share Their wisdom with you.  When done, say:

“My thanks to the apple Goddess,

So say I, so shall it be done.”

Place the remaining apples outside as an offering to the Faeries!

SOURCE: Autumn Equinox: The Enchantment of Mabon by Ellen Dugan

Odin, like the Greek Zeus, is the principle deity of the Norse pantheon.  Spelled Odin, Odinn, Odhin, Othin or Odhinn; his name is derived from Old Norse meaning “wind” and “spirit”.  One of his nicknames is “Thundur” which means “one who thunders” or “the stretched one”.  Odin received this title after what we now call “Odin’s Ordeal” where, according to the Edda, he hung himself from the Tree of the World for nine days and nights.

The World Tree, also called Yggdrasil, is where Odin sacrificed himself in an initiatory manner to gain the knowledge of the Runes.  For nine long days and nights, hungry, thirsty and in tremendous pain, he stared into the abyss after piercing himself with his own lance and sacrificing one of his own eyes.

The number nine is considered the most sacred in the Norse concept of numerology.  Odin’s nine nights hanging from the World Tree also coincides with the nine nights it takes the human soul to travel to the Underworld.  The Celts, who found the number three to be significant, felt that the power of three times three to be the most powerful as it multiplies to the sum of nine.  Just like Odin did when he sacrificed himself, the Norse saw how the number nine always “gives itself to itself”.  Take a look:

1 X 9 = 9

2 X 9 = 18 and 1 + 8 = 9

3 X 9 = 27 and 2 + 7 = 9

4 X 9 = 36 and 3 + 6 = 9

5 X 9 = 45 and 4 + 5 = 9

6 X 9 = 54 and 5 + 4 = 9

7 X 9 = 63 and 6 + 3 = 9

8 X 9 = 72 and 7 + 2 = 9

9 X 9 = 81 and 8 + 1 = 9

Odin’s passion for the knowledge of the Runes is what led himself to self-sacrifice and therefore brought the Runes to mankind.  This sacred event is commemorated from August 17th, the first day hanging from Yggdrasil, to August 25th, when Odin spied the Runes and with the last of his energy, fell from the World Tree screaming and seized them.

The Spell

This spell is designed to be as simple as possible.  You won’t need to make a run to the New Age Store for supplies, but you will need a few things:

Supplies:

* Something to work your spell for.  Pick something that you need or want or desire.  Perhaps you need a new job or a promotion at your current place of employment.  Maybe you need a new car or to be able to fix the vehicle that you already have.  Whatever it is that you need, you will be working towards it for nine nights in a row.  The happy new is that you will not have to go through the same ordeal that Odin experienced!
* 9 candles; color and size of your choice (you might want to try tea-lights as they are inexpensive and do not burn very long so you don’t have to worry about leaving them unattended or relighting them)
* Peace, quiet and time (you will need time each night to meditate undisturbed).  Also, try to perform this spell and meditate at the same time each night for maximum results.

On August 17th, light the first candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 1, on this night my spell’s begun.”

Take nine deep breaths and meditate on the things that you need to start to change to meet your goal.  If you need to, keep a notebook next to you to jot down any ideas that pop up.

On August 18th light the second candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 2, on this night I change my view.”

Take nine deep breaths and meditate on how you can re-program your thought processes to bring about the change that you desire.  What have you been doing that has impeded your won growth?  What can you do to get out of your won way?  Again, have a pen and notebook handy just in case you need to make yourself a spiritual “to do” list.

On August 19th light the third candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 3, one this night I am set free.”

Take nine deep breaths and meditate on how you are throwing away all of your old concepts and you are opening yourself to the positive changes to come.

On August 20th light the fourth candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 4, one this night I open the door.”

Take nine deep breaths and meditate on the fact that you have closed one door and you are ready to open a new one.  Open the door, and learn what is on the other side that will aid you in your spell-working.

On August 21st light the fifth candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 5, on this night I come alive.”

Take nine deep breaths and meditate on how you are like a seed that has grown into a plant that is now blossoming and will bear fruit.  Water yourself…give yourself fertilizer…feel the warmth of the life-giving sun…and watch yourself grow!

On August 22nd light the sixth candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 6, I stay vigil for mental tricks.”

Take nine deep breaths and mediate on how you may sabotage yourself.  We all hate change, and sometimes we can set bear-traps to step into to impede our own progress.  Find ways to keep yourself on track in spite of any roadblocks that may come your way.

On August 23rd light the seventh candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 7, I call in the power of Earth and Heaven.”

Take nine deep breaths and meditate on the power of Mother Earth and Father Sky.  Ask Them for Their help.  Ask Them for their wisdom and guidance.  You are Their child and They want to help you.  However you see Them, have a “family meeting” as to how you can obtain your goal.

On August 24th light the eighth candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 8, I call in the power of the ladies of Fate.”

Take nine deep breaths and meditate on the Norns, the three women that tend to Yggdrasil; who represent the past, present and future.  Or, you could tap into the Fates, their Greek counterparts.  Either will work.  Chat with them about what in your past has lead to where you are today.  Ask them what you are doing today that will lead you to tomorrow.  Finally, ask them what you can do tomorrow that will bring about your desire in the future.

On August 25th light the last candle and say nine times:

“By the power of 9 times 9, what I’ve worked for is now mine.”

Take nine deep breaths and meditate on the final outcome of your desire; what you’ve been working towards for the last eight nights.  Set a date; make a deadline if you can.  If you need to, use a calendar and a fire-engine red marker and make a big circle.   See the image firmly in your mind.  See how your life will change for the better after you have obtained your goal; how will it affect your environment?, your friends and family? or your day-to-day life?  Take the time to set these images in your mind like cement or concrete.

Finally, say your thanks nine times to the Universe and go about making things happen!

Sources:

* Book of Runes by Ralph H. Blum
* Lammas: Celebrating the Fruits of the First Harvest by Anna Franklin and Paul Mason
* Northern Magic: Rune Mysteries and Shamanism by Edred Thorsson
* Pagan Book of Days by Nigel Jackson
* Rune Mysteries by Silver RavenWolf and Nigel Jackson

Even if you are not familiar with the Norse Pantheon, most likely you have heard of Odhinn, the All-Father.  Odhinn is the Shaman-King that travels through the three worlds on his eight-legged horse Sleipnir.  These three worlds are known to the Norse and Celts as the Upperworld (Asgard to the Norse and the Sky/Star World to the Celts), the Middleworld (our world that we call Earth; Midgard to the Norse and Surface/Stone World to the Celts) and the Underworld (Utgard to the Norse and the Ocean/Sea World to the Celts).

Sleipnir could run on land, sea or air, which are the three worlds or three realms of the Tree of Life or World Tree of the Celts and Norse.  The name for the World Tree among the Norse was Yggdrasil; “Yggr” being one of the names for Odhinn and “drassil” meant both “horse” and “gallows”.  Sacrifices to Odhinn were hung on gallows, another version of the World Tree.

Another symbol associated with the shaman-horse Sleipnir is the Rune Eh (M) which means “horse”.  “Eh” propels the soul through the Otherworlds, the other spheres of consciousness, so you can call upon his aid with meditation and journeys. Horses were considered sacred to the Norse and horses the color of cloud-gray were said to be one of the methods of travel for the Valkyries.  Perhaps you could instill the aid of a Valkyries for your Otherworld journeys as well?  The rune Eh can signify a mutual partnership as well as transitional movement, so it is not out of the question to be able to work with Sleipnir or the Valkyries.

July 26th is the day set aside by the Asutru to commemorate the death-steed Sleipnir.

THE SPELL:

This is a very simple spell to help you with your meditations.  Many people struggle with meditating, so calling in a little extra help never hurts.  If you are already familiar with meditation and journeying, then Sleipnir will be able to take you swiftly (he has eight legs after all) through the worlds and levels of consciousness, enhancing your meditation experiences.

If possible, do this spell and meditation outside with a real-life tree.  If this is not possible die to weather or lack or privacy, then simply sit indoors and use your visualizing skills to imagine the World Tree before you.

Supplies: offering to Sleipnir (a nice offering for Sleipnir would be something that a horse would eat, perhaps some sugar cubes would be a nice treat?  You need not place your offering at the gallows, instead the base of a tree would work just fine.).  Offering to the tree (again, think of what a tree needs; perhaps some fertilizer or water to aid in its growth?).

Stand at a tree with your offering and say:

“I call to Odhinn’s eight-legged steed:

In hand I have _____ for you to feed.”

Place the offering at the base of the tree and say:

“I place this offering here at the Tree

In hopes of the partnership between you and me.”

Sit with your back propped up against the trunk of the tree.   Mentally connect to the spirit of the tree and let it know that you wish to make a partnership so you can meditate and travel the three worlds of the World Tree.  To show the spirit of the tree that you have good intentions, place your offering at the roots.  If you wish, you can also draw the Rune Eh (shaped similarly to the capital letter “M”) in the air or on the ground to seal your “compact:” with the tree.

Now, simply begin your meditation.  If it helps, visualize yourself riding on the back of Sleipnir, his gray mane flowing in the air, the hooves making a rhythmic sound that takes you deeper and deeper into a relaxed state.  State the purpose of your meditation; what answers do you seek?  Ask the Universe your question so you and Sleipnir can find the answers.  Say:

“Shaman Steed of air, land and sea,

As I sit here beneath this tree;

Move me through the worlds of three,

Aid me on my shamanic journey.”

Close your eyes and go ahead with your meditation.  When you come back to normal consciousness, move your fingers and toes, stretch and come to standing.  Thank the tree and say:

“Cloud-Gray horse of the Valkyries,

Thank you for aiding my journeys.

Together we worked magick well

And this concludes my magick spell.

Stay if you will, and go if you must;

In perfect love and perfect trust.

By the power of threes times three,

As my will, so mote it be.”

SOURCES:

Animal Magick by DJ Conway

Pagan Book of Days by Nigel Pennick

Rune Mysteries by Silver RavenWolf and Nigel Jackson

Tree of Enchantment: Ancient Wisdom and Magic Practices of the Faery Tradition by Orion Foxwood

The magick people would work would either refer to nourishing the crops (Russia), granting fertility to childless women (Scotland) or ask for healing (England). In exchange for these, offerings of pins, flowers and coins were made to the Guardian Spirit or the Water Nymphs. This guardian was not always seen in human form; instead they would sometimes appear as a frog, mermaid, a winged serpent or a fly. In any form, the Guardian was honored and considered holy.

The reason that the aquatic site was held in such high regard is because it was thought that wells and springs issued form the womb of Mother Earth, the life-giving Goddess. Springs and wells like caves were through to be the entrance to Mother Earth’s womb; from which all life springs forth and all life must return to. Water from such sites were considered so holy that women would bathe in it (Sweden), it was drunk from a special vessel (England), sacrifices of treasure were made to it (Scotland) or flowers would adorn the site (England).

These practices lived on even after the church took ever the land. In Ireland, many wells that had been dedicated to the goddess Brighid were now under the domain of St. Brigit. In Britain, the goddess that was known by Anna, Annis or Anu had many wells as well, and these were “given” to St. Ann. Finally, Midsummer was also known as the festival of Sul Minerva, named after the goddess of healing springs that were located in modern-day Bath were Pagans would honor the spirit of the water.

The Spell

I am fortunate to live on land that has many natural springs, but not everyone is so lucky. That doesn’t’ mean that you cannot honor the Guardian Water Spirit where you live. Do you have a creek, river or lake in your area? Is there a campsite with one of those “old-fashioned” hand-pumps? Can you create a lovely water-fountain in your garden or buy a miniature one to place inside your house or apartment? Find whichever method works best for you and then prepare to make offering sin exchange for your special request.

Your request is up to you as this spell is not limited to fertility (children or crops) or healing, although you could work magick to “fertilize” your bank account or heal your debt in these uncertain economic times. Make yourself a list of what you will ask for from the Water Guardian Spirit and get your offerings ready.

Your offerings can be the traditional coins, flowers and pins, but feel free to use your imagination. You could buy some shell corn or bird seed as an offering to the animals and nature spirits. You could tie pretty ribbons to branches on a tree. You could even pant a tree, adding to the landscape. Think about what kind of offering is best suited for your environment and situation before making your decision.

Decorate your altar in the manner of your choosing. Adjust your decorations to fit working outdoors (think about the windy conditions) or working indoors. Midsummer is a fire festival, so let’s add that into the mix. After all, you can mix fire and water; fire-water or alcohol is considered a spirit isn’t it? Make sure to have a candle (indoor-working) or a Tiki Torch (outdoor-working and it can help to keep the bugs away!) lit during your magical working. But, all you really need is you, your wish-list and the water itself. If working indoors, place a bowl of water on your altar and if outdoors, being at the site of the water source is ideal.

Create Sacred Space or Cast Circle in a manner of your choosing. Then, make your statement of intent after you light your candle or torch:

“On this longest day of the year

Light and fire are king.

But on this day I also honor

The Goddess and the Spirit of the Spring.”

Place your offering upon the altar or at the aquatic site and say:

“From rain to creek to river to lake;

Water feeds humans and Mother Earth.

This I give to Guardian Spirit

For the Goddess giving life birth.”

Speak to the Mother Earth Goddess and the Water Guardian Spirit in your own words, respectfully requesting one-by-one the items on your wish-list. Explain form your heart why you need to remove or add these things in your life. Also, ask for guidance as to how you can make these things happen on the mundane level through physical means.

When finished, than the Goddess and the Water Guardian Spirit and say:

“Goddess and Guardian, my thanks to you

Pales aid me in the works I do;

For the good of all and With harm to none,

So say I, so shall it be done.”

Source: Midsummer: Magical Celebrations of the Summer Solstice by Anna Franklin

When thinking of Beltane, we usually think of the practices from northern Europe, but we can actually trace some of the roots to ancient Roman Paganism.

The Romans honored many gods and goddesses, but during the Spring months, from the end of April to early May, the goddess Flora was celebrated with the flower festival Floralia.  Flora, the goddess of flowers, was the consort of Zephyrus and her major festival, Floralia, was associated with the dead as well as having strong sexual overtones.

She was mainly worshiped by young girls who would giver her offerings of fruit and flowers and drape her statues with garlands which were carried in a procession of singers and dancers to a flower-covered tree, the predecessor of the Maypole.  These practices were among many to be spread to other cultures after they were conquered by the Romans.

The Spell

This is a simple spell to help you tap into the renewing energies of Spring.  This is the perfect time to do some “Spring cleaning”, be it physical, emotional, spiritual or all three.  Take an inventory of the things that should remain with the dead of winter and toss them out, either physically (like cleaning out your closet) or symbolically (clearing out the cobwebs of your life).  What you have left, the important things that you wish to cultivate and harvest this year, plant like seeds now.  Also, make sure to remain open to all opportunities that come your way to help make you dreams come to fruition.

Supplies:

·        offering to Flora (fruit, flowers or some other form of offering)

·        pen and paper

You may begin by creating sacred space or casting a circle, whichever works better for you is fine.  If you have a statue or a picture of Flora, it would be nice to drape it with a garland (a flower Lei would work for this).  If you would like, you and also burn a floral incense or light flower-shaped candles.  When you feel you are ready, call to Flora:

“Flora, goddess of flowers and Spring,

Whose worshippers would dance and sing;

I call to You this fist of May,

To renew my life on this Spring day.”

Make a list of the things that you wish to leave behind, the things that you wish to leave in the dead of winter to be recycled by Mother Earth and transformed into something new.  If you need to, take the time to make notes as to how to remove these bad habits form your life.  When done, say:

“I leave my past behind, it’s dead and buried,

Gone are the days all crazy and harried.

I open myself to life anew

And I do it with the aid of You.”

Now, make a list of the things that you wish to plant like seeds, the things that you wish to grow and harvest this year.  Take the time to “check off” each thought-seed on your list, see in your minds-eye it growing to fruition.  If you feel so inclined, Meditate and ask Flora for Her guidance and wisdom.  Place your offering upon the altar and say:

“Please guide my path, show me the way.

I open new doors each and every day.

In return I give these offerings to You,

My thanks for aiding me in what I do.”

In your own words, say thanks to Flora.  Leave the offerings until morning.  Keep checking in on your lists, taking the proper steps to grow your seeds!

Sources:

·        Beltane by Raven Grimassi

·        Encyclopedia of the Gods by Michael Jordan